» We are trying to reduce inequalities of opportunities: Manmohan Singh

We are trying to reduce inequalities of opportunities: Manmohan Singh

Published: Wednesday, March 5, 2008, 16:37 [IST]

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New Delhi, Mar 5 : Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh today said that all efforts are on towards reducing the inequality in opportunities, while rejecting the Opposition charge that the UPA Government is resorting to an appeasement of minority communities.

"We are trying to reduce inequalities of opportunities, gaps that exist between regions, between classes, between urban and rural areas. This is part of the process of inclusive growth," Manmohan Singh said in a reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address in the Lok Sabha.

Singh appealed to political parties to recognise the great opportunity that the country has to ensure inclusive growth, noting that it was necessary to recognise that SC, ST and minorities have not benefitted.

If the rural employment guarantee scheme is implemented honestly and efficiently, extreme poverty could be softened, said Singh.

The government had not raised the price of kerosene and carried out only marginal adjustments to petrol and diesel prices despite an increase in global oil prices. The price of rice and wheat distributed through the public distribution system has not been changed in the last four years, he added.

He asserted that all this has been done keeping in view the interests of the common man.

The BJP staged a walk out in the Lok Sabha immediately after Manmohan Singh's reply to the debate, expressing dissatisfaction.

Leader of Opposition L K Advani rejected the charges levelled by the Prime Minister on the previous BJP-led NDA Government on issues like internal security and agriculture.

"All allegations on the NDA Government are false and baseless," Advani said.

Before leading the walkout, Advani said, the Prime Minister's reply had no mention about questions raised by the Opposition on crucial issues like internal security and the execution of the death sentence of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.